Tag Archives: life

Wakeful Way Witnessing Wonderful World

Good morning!   It is getting chilly – going below the freezing point suddenly with frost over the grass and frozen leaves down. Trees are turning into autumn colors or already shedding colorful leaves on the grass. Some will revive and some will not next spring.   We don’t know all the causes and conditions of how, when, and why all these things are taking place, much less all the things going in ourselves and all others. How can we claim we know birth, life, death, life after death?   Why are we so concerned about small smelly skin sacks, like bubbles with bubbling ideas, not caring about wholly wholesome world ways like seas with seasonable tides – here and now?   The Buddha said, “All living beings are karma-heirs, karma-relatives, and karma-machines.” “The Four Applications are to decrease bad karmas, stop them, increase good karmas, and start them.”   He used to ask if the five aggregates (form, feeling, idea, formations, consciousness) are permanent or not (self-sama) and duk-kha (wrong-going) or not (self-sovereign). If not, they are selfless (no self-substance).   He also said that religion is cultivation (bhāvanā, causing to become, causative of bhave, becoming, constant change in ups and downs by karmas, old and new physical, verbal, and mental).   Dogen said, “The great way of Buddhas and Ancestors necessarily has unsurpassed practice, the way cycling without interruption. Aspiration, cultivation, awakening, and nirvana without interruption is the way cycle of practice.”   He said that cultivation and verification are one and equal (shu-shō-ittō: 修証一等). It is true especially in Zazen, sitting, stopping karma, seeing dharma, serving and saving all – the great, mature, and joyful way of all.   Otherwise we must go through constant karma kinetics through the Six Paths becoming (bhava) hell beings, hungry ghosts, fighting devils, animal beings, … Continue reading

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Peace, Prognosis, Perspective, Priority

Good morning!   We have the bright sun on a quiet Sunday just after the Summer Solstice. This morning I went into the garden and saw that the big mallow flowers have started blooming, the morning glories are blossoming brilliantly, … Continue reading

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Transforming Base

Good morning!   We are now in our spring equinox sesshin. Sesshin means touching the mind (接心) and embracing the mind (摂心); touching and embracing the buddha, awakened, mind.   In our ordinary living we are with monkey minds and … Continue reading

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System or Self?

Good morning!   We had the half moon on New Year’s Day, and then the full moon, and this morning we saw the half moon again. Now we have bright sunlight brightening trees, snow, and the sky. After a few … Continue reading

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Dream-walking Delusion-working

Good morning!   We’ve had quiet sittings hearing the waterfall sounds, and incessant intensive insects’ singing. We now see brilliant sunlight alighting on green leaves. This morning I saw yellowing and browning leaves already, and fall frost hovering over the … Continue reading

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Mind Mirror

Good morning! We now have a beautiful Sunday morning. Sitting with the Buddha, the beautiful flower on the altar, the cool breeze, the sound of water flowing and birds’ singing penetrates through our world. We can now enjoy the full … Continue reading

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Awakening and Awakened Action

Good morning! After some showers we have a little milder weather. Especially after sittings we can enjoy a serene, still, steadfast, and satisfied state. Why do we sit? We all have problems and sufferings (duk-kha: lit. wrong-going, dissatisfaction). We cannot … Continue reading

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Total Truth

Good morning! In our sitting, the pure sound of flowing water penetrates through our world; the fresh breeze permeates throughout our bodies and minds; the bright, beautiful sunlight pervades the world. This is the world in cessation (nirodha) and the … Continue reading

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Beyond birth-death

Good morning! Usually when we sit early in the morning we have cool, fresh air, but it’s going up to 101 degrees, with a heat index going up to 115. The world seems to be ablaze – flowers are falling. … Continue reading

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A Day Without Working: A Day Without Eating

Good evening! Day by day we are given life and light. Second by second we are endowed with air and water. Bai-zhang said, “A day without work is a day without eating.” We must appreciate the truth, goodness, beauty, and … Continue reading

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